Everyone has a passion in life. For some it is music or art, but for Audrey Nielsen it is golf. Unlike many, Nielsen has the motivation and drive it takes to be one of the best – from her long pre-tournament routines to her dedication to getting better at the game. The future for Nielsen is bright with many fairways still ahead.
Nielsen started golf at a very young age. Ever since the day she picked up her first golf club, she knew that golf was the sport for her. Since then Nielsen has spent countless hours and long hot days working on her golf game to not only improve it for herself but for her team at Westside.
“I first got into golf at 4 years old,” Nielsen said. “My dad played in high school and has always played. He would take me out to watch him and later got me my first pair of clubs. We would go out and play twilight rounds. From then on we just kept playing a lot.”
Golf is a very unique sport – from its complexity to its mentally draining long rounds. Most players have a certain passion for the sport that keeps them motivated to keep going. For Nielsen it is the toughness of the game.
“I think what made me stick with it for so long is the challenges it brings.” Nielsen Said. “It’s an incredibly hard sport and that’s what I love about it most. You always can get better and always have a challenge.”
The first day Nielsen picked up a golf club her personal record of 83 did not just fall straight into her lap. It took the Warrior many years to get her golf game down to a science and to be playing at the level she is now. With the hard work she puts, in she has been able to turn her golf game into something magnificent in the matter of months this year.
“I’ve lowered my scoring average by 16 strokes and overall been playing better,” Nielsen said. “I’ve played in many tournaments and scored well in many. I still have lots of work to do before I get to state and need to work hard to make sure I play well at Riverside.”
Another one of Nielsen’s favorite parts of the sport is all of the great opportunities it has given her. Golf has created many memories for the Warrior and opened doorways she wouldn’t have been able to without the sport.
“My most memorable round was at Tiburon this year,” Nielsen said. “I shot 83, my personal record, and also won first overall as a team. In reality though I would say all the tournaments I’ve played in have been memorable. I’ve gotten to play amazing courses that are in incredible conditions. For example I played at Indian creek yesterday and it is a pro course that I wouldn’t be able to play on just a normal day. It was amazing and one of the prettiest courses I’ve played on.”
Nielsen has mastered preparing for tournaments making sure she has everything she needs in order to play at her highest level on the course.
“Before a tournament I always prepare everything the night before, that way in the morning I just need to get ready and go,” Nielsen said. “This includes going through my course book and writing notes. When I wake up I make sure to eat a big breakfast and do a ton of stretching.”
Along with her morning routine Nielsen has put a huge emphasis on her mental health when preparing for a tournament, which has shown in her golf game.
“Before a round I like to go putt and chip first to figure out the green speed. Then I go to the range and go back and forth between hitting driver and irons. Right before I tee off I look through my course book, then it starts. In order to get mentally right I tend to listen to a book about golf. One that talks about confidence and the mentality that you need in order to play good golf,” Nielsen said.
Golf is more than a sport to Nielsen. For her, it is a way to find peace and, most importantly, to have fun.
“There’s not much I like to do other than golf,” Nielsen said. “I do enjoy working out and hanging out with my friends. But mostly I just golf. Golfing helps me clear my mind and feel at peace when I’m stressed. Golf is something that if you go out and just hit it to the fences you can get all your stress and anger out while also doing something you love.”
Nielsen has all of the components she needs to become not only a phenomenal golfer but also an amazing person in life which will take her farther than any golf club could.
